| Abstract: | A new mechanical model for function of the pharyngeal jaw apparatus in generalized perciform fishes is developed from work with the family Haemulidae. The model is based on anatomical observations, patterns of muscle activity during feeding (electromyography), and the actions of directly stimulated muscles. The primary working stroke of the pharyngeal apparatus involves simultaneous upper jaw depression and retraction against a stabilized and elevating lower jaw. The working stroke is characterized by overlapping activity in most branchial muscles and is resolved into three phases. Four muscles (obliquus dorsalis 3, levator posterior, levator externus 3/4, and obliquus posterior) that act to depress the upper jaws become active in the first phase. Next, the retractor dorsalis, the only upper jaw retracting muscle, becomes active. Finally, there is activity in several muscles (transversus ventrales, pharyngocleithralis externus, pharyngohyoideus, and protractor pectoralis) that attach to the lower jaws. The combined effect of these muscles is to elevate and stabilize the lower jaws against the depressing and retracting upper jaws. The model identifies a novel mechanism of upper jaw depression, here proposed to be the primary component of the perciform pharyngeal jaw bite. The key to this mechanism is the joint between the epibranchial and toothed pharyngobranchial of arches 3 and 4. Dorsal rotation of epibranchials 3 and 4 about the insertion of the obliquus posterior depresses the lateral border of pharyngobranchials 3 and 4 (upper jaw). The obliquus dorsalis 3 muscle crosses the epibranchial-pharyngo-branchial joint in arches 3 and 4, and several additional muscles effect epibranchial rotation. Five upper jaw muscles cause upper jaw depression upon electrical stimulation: the obliquus dorsalis 3, levator posterior, levator externus 3/4, obliquus posterior, and transversus dorsalis. This result directly contradicts previous interpretations of function for the first three muscles. The presence of strong depression of the upper pharyngeal jaws explains the ability of many generalized perciform fishes to crush hard prey in their pharyngeal apparatus. |
